Recent research suggesting that frequent sauna users have a lower risk of developing dementia than those who do not has been drawing significant attention. However, this does not confirm a direct causal relationship indicating that saunas explicitly prevent dementia.

According to a 2017 study published in the international journal Age and Ageing by researchers at the University of Eastern Finland, men who used a sauna 4 to 7 times a week had a 66% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who used it just once a week. The risk of developing Alzheimer's disease was also found to be 65% lower.

The researchers tracked 2,315 Finnish men aged 42 to 60 for an average of 20.7 years. Over the study period, 204 dementia cases occurred, including 123 diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease. Even after statistically adjusting for potential confounding factors such as age, smoking, alcohol consumption, blood pressure, diabetes, and body mass index, the correlation between sauna frequency and reduced dementia risk remained significant.

In 2020, similar results emerged from a larger-scale study involving both men and women.

Researchers from institutions including the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare tracked 13,994 men and women aged 30 to 69 for up to 39 years, publishing their findings in the international journal Preventive Medicine Reports. During the study period, 1,805 individuals were diagnosed with dementia.

The results showed that individuals who used the sauna 9 to 12 times a month had a 19% lower overall risk of dementia during the entire follow-up period compared to those who used it 4 times or less per month. Notably, during the first 20 years of follow-up, the risk was 53% lower.

Is Frequent Sauna Use Always Beneficial?

Higher frequency does not necessarily mean an even lower dementia risk. In the group that used the sauna 13 to 30 times a month, no statistically significant risk reduction was observed. Furthermore, individuals who used saunas at excessively high temperatures showed roughly twice the risk of dementia during the initial 20 years compared to others.

The connection between saunas and brain health is likely linked to improved blood circulation and cardiovascular function. The heat of a sauna expands blood vessels and induces changes in blood flow and heart rate. Experts explain that these physiological changes influence blood pressure and vascular health, which can ultimately benefit long-term brain health. Changes in stress and inflammatory responses are also cited as possible mechanisms.

Cautions and Limitations

However, current research only observes the relationship between sauna habits and dementia incidence. There is a lack of large-scale randomized clinical trials directly verifying whether saunas prevent dementia. The possibility that other confounding factors, such as the exercise habits or living environments of frequent sauna users, influenced the results cannot be ruled out.

It is also important to consider that the study subjects were primarily users of traditional Finnish dry saunas. Finnish saunas typically involve a short stay in a dry environment ranging between 70 to 100 degrees Celsius (158 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit). Whether identical effects apply to Korean wet saunas or jjimjilbangs (traditional Korean bathhouses) has not been separately verified.

Safety is another critical concern. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can cause dehydration and blood pressure fluctuations, leading to dizziness or fainting. Individuals with heart disease or hypotension must exercise particular caution. Harvard Medical School recommends limiting standard sauna sessions to 15 to 20 minutes and ensuring adequate hydration.

Ultimately, while meaningful statistical links have been identified between frequent sauna habits and a reduced risk of dementia, these findings should not be immediately adopted as a definitive method for preventing dementia. While the potential health benefits of saunas are worth noting, it is crucial to use them safely according to individual health conditions rather than forcing an excessive increase in usage frequency.

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